“Tartuffe’ translator to perform at Gillioz

Tim Mooney, whose interpretation of Molière’s play “Tartuffe” will be performed at Ozarks Technical Community College’s spring play, will be in Springfield Feb. 16 to perform his one-man play “Molière Than Thou.”

Mooney’s performance will be presented at the Gillioz Theater at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and go one sale an hour before the production. His appearance is sponsored by OTC Student Life and the Gillioz Theater.

The play “Tartuffe” will be performed March 13-15 at the Gillioz.

“Having the author who adapted the play visit your production is an unique and amazing opportunity. As an actor in this particular production I am excited and a little intimidated to be getting advice from someone of Tim Mooney’s credentials,” said Kenneth Wilson, facility manager of OTC Fine Arts at the Gillioz.

Mooney has been translating Molière’s plays for more than 10 years, turning the original 17th century French versions into English and in rhyming couplets. Molière wrote many of his plays in that rhyming style.

Mooney said it took him 17 days to translate “Tartuffe,” which is Molière’s commentary on religious hypocrisy.

The comedy is arguably Molière’s most famous play. It was written and first performed in 1664 and almost immediately censored by the outcry of the self-labeled “devout” people of France, who were very influential in the court of King Louis XIV.

“The message of ‘Tartuffe’ is you can’t judge someone just by what they say regarding religion,” Mooney said.

Mooney said Molière’s commentary on life in France was similar to the work of Mark Twain.

“Molière was a champion of the little people He was revealing hypocrisy,” Mooney said.

Mooney’s is interpretation of “Tartuffe” and other plays have been widely accepted in venues where they are performed.

“A lot of French die-hards who are attached to the original French version don’t like him in English but for the most part the plays have been accepted very well,” Mooney said.

Following his performance, Mooney will conduct workshops for OTC theater students Feb. 17

Steve Koehler is coordinator of publications at Ozarks Technical Community College.